So… I'm starting a blog??!! It's a NEW thing...

The past few days, I have thought of starting a blog. I am NOT much of a writer, but as my friends and family will tell you... I am a verbal processor-- so, hopefully this will help me to get it all out!!!

I think that it all started a little over a week ago-- when Kem Harold (one of the amazingly amazing women at my church) shared at a women's dinner about NEW…. well, it was about God doing NEW things… and about recognizing that NEW is all around us… and that we should embrace the NEW! Kem shared something from the Lord's heart for me… and lets just say that something happened in that moment. I was changed… I felt His love and started to feel more aware of the NEW things that God wanted to do in my heart and life. What an amazing adventure!

So, this week… I have asked God to help me open my eyes to the NEW around me. 

NEW perspectives… future is not something to be afraid of, its something to be embraced.

NEW mindsets…I don't have to work for love, I have been perfected in God's love for me. 

NEW outlook…life is a journey, with twist and turns.

NEW ways of being and doing…its okay to be okay, oh and to have fun doing it!

There is so much that I could share from this week about the NEW… but, just from today… I found myself enjoying all of these things, all in one room. See, today was my friend Tori's daughter-- Aliza's birthday. She turned 1 today… and it was the sweetest party! And, my gift was perfect… hehe. 

Sweet Aliza Day...

Anyway… usually, anyone that knows me knows that I don't historically do well with people I don't know and in situations that require "being normal". haha. I usually spend time battling insecurity in my head… struggling with misconceptions about who likes me and who doesn't….allowing sadness to fill my heart because I am not married and don't have kiddos…. and sitting in a corner somewhere acting like I am busy, when I'm not. WOW. Well… today was NEW for me! 

I laughed, I smiled, I enjoyed just watching, I wrote the bday gift list, I ate carrots, I held the babies that would let me and to the others I kept saying "don't you love auntie Nandi", I laughed… I mean really laughed, I said hi to people that didn't hear me and didn't really care, I sat when everyone else was standing, I said I liked the popcorn even when Kelly didn't, I told Sarah that I sucked on a straw from the lemonade and then realized what I was saying (HAHAHAH!!! still laughing at that) and enjoyed the simplicity of friends! 

I realized today that NEW doesn't have to be scary… and actually, that NEW (like starting this blog) can be just what we need to see the wonder that is Him. NEW can be the thing that opens us up to a side of God that we never knew could be discovered. Today was a day like that for me… I saw His grace in my life, in that I didn't try to change myself or my heart, i simply rested in HIs grace and in what He died for me to have… and I was made NEW. I can't explain it… but honestly, I don't really want to. I love staying in a posture of wonder and amazement with who He is more than what He can do! 

Its the simple things. Today was a simple day-- filled with simple things. Today was a NEW day-- filled with NEW things!!! And, HBD Aliza Day… your precious little life once again brought something NEW and joyful into my life…so, THANK YOU!!!

Up NEXT… a NEW job that starts this week… ahhhh… HERE WE GO!!!

The spread-- I pretty much ate everything that had sugar on it :) 

Sweet precious ones…little people...

KK an Harper… I'm her favorite, just saying. 

Oh, and here are some pictures of some NEW things that happened this week… 

Umm… bought Yogurt instead of ice cream… 

New clothes… I sent this to Ansley and decided to use it on here… haha!!!